Requiring the community approach to four-year-old kindergarten. (FE)
Impact
The bill aims to strengthen the involvement of community-based providers in delivering early education, thereby expanding access to quality four-year-old kindergarten programs. By enforcing a standardized community approach, SB973 seeks to improve educational outcomes for young children across Wisconsin. Additionally, the legislation specifies that contracts between school boards and providers must ensure a minimum payment per pupil that reflects local funding levels, establishing a financial framework meant to support equitable funding across these programs.
Summary
Senate Bill 973 mandates that if a school board provides a four-year-old kindergarten program, it must utilize a community-based approach for early education as defined by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The bill establishes requirements for school boards to contract with licensed community-based providers, such as family child care centers and Head Start agencies, each of which must meet specific criteria including being in good standing with the Department of Children and Families and notifying the school board of its intent to offer such a program by a set deadline. This aims to ensure greater integration of community resources into early childhood education.
Contention
Concerns have arisen regarding the potential administrative burden placed on school boards and community providers alike. Questions about the adequacy of resources for implementation, particularly regarding staff qualifications and curriculum standards, have been discussed. Furthermore, there are apprehensions that the bill's requirements could inadvertently limit the flexibility that individual school districts have to tailor education programs to their specific community needs or preferences. The exemption of certain teachers from licensure requirements may also raise concerns about educational quality in these programs.
Allows charter schools to engage in nontraditional approaches to learning, permits local communities to adopt all-charter school public school model for public education.
In duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for kindergartens; in pupils and attendance, further providing for age limits and temporary residence, for definitions and for when provided; and, in early learning programs, providing for full-day kindergarten.